Electron tube arc-over ring



April 9, 1968 KLlER ET AL 3,377,612

ELECTRON TUBE ARCOVER RING Filed Oct. 6, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

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INVENTORS 4 LEW/.5 m AER,

FRED P- MANETFI, BY GEORGE .MILL A;

ATTGRNEYS April 9, 1968 KLlER ET AL 3,377,612

ELECTRON TUBE ARC-OVER RING Filed 001;. e, 1966 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTORS LEW/S KL/ER, FRED R MANETTI, 'B g GEORGE HM/LLER WW awM A TTORNEYS 3,377,612 Patented Apr. 9, 1968 3,377,612 ELECTRON TUBE ARC-OVER RING Lewis Klier, Arlington Heights, Fred P. Manetti. River Forest, and George H. Miller, Bensenville, 111., as-

signors to American Plasticraft Company, Chicago,

III., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 584,805 7 Claims. (Cl. 339-143) This invention relates to improvements in electron tube sockets including arc-over protective devices and is particularly concerned with the construction and assembly of such sockets especially, but not necessarily, adapted for use with television picture tubes. This invention relates to the type of structure disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 3,251,016 issued May 10, 1966 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

Operating conditions within a television picture tube cause occasional arcing across high voltage components within the tube. Also, picture tubes of the type having narrow neck portions have their circumferentially spaced terminal pins so closely arranged that this often results in arcing. The high voltage resulting from the arcing is then conducted through the tube pins, socket terminals and lead wires to other components in the television set. Heretofore, protection against such arcing has been in the' form of resistors, condensers and external types of spark gaps thus adding to the cost of the assembly.

To summarize briefly, the invention is generally concerned with the production of novel means to provide for absorption of high voltage current through arcing normally occuring between the television tube pins or the socket terminals. Such means may be incorporated bodily in the assembly of the tube socket. The use of such an arrester is effective to prevent objectionable high voltage discharge through arcing between the pins of the tube and/ or between the socket terminals.

The socket of the present invention embodies a novel arc-over ring which includes prongs formed thereon which are positioned in close association with the socket terminals. The arc-over ring functions somewhat like an arrester to absorb the high voltage though arcing between the socket terminals and the associated prongs and convey the discharge to ground or other control for absorption.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a novelly constructed television picture tube socket with a novel high voltage arc-over protective ring to dissipate both focus voltages and grid voltages of various valves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube socket having a plurality of terminal pin connectors and an associated collector ring common to all or some of said connectors for the absorption of high voltage current through arcing.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novelly constructed, easily assembled, inexpensive arc arrester socket for electron tubes.

The structure by which the above-noted and other advantages of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the acompanying drawings, showing representative embodiments of the invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is an approximately full-size perspective view of one embodiment of a tube socket embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the socket body of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the socket of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side sectional view of the socket of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of the socket with the cover removed showing the various wires and terminals in the socket and showing the arc-over protective device, in the form of a ring, in position in the socket;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5 showing the relative position of a portion of the protective device and an associated terminal;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded view of the socket illustrating an exemplary arrangement of the various elements; ments;

FIGURE 8 is a planar view of the arc-over ring shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is an end view of the ring of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a bottom view ofthe ring of FIG- URE 8.

Referring now to the exemplary disclosures in the accompanying drawings (see FIGS. 1 and 3), the socket, generally indicated at 11, is comprised of two generally cylindrical sections such as body section 12 and cover of cap section 13. The socket 11 may be made of any thermosetting or thermoplastic material such as, for example, polyethylene or other material having the requisite shape retaining characteristics and dielectric properties such as ceramic, Bakelite, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, the body section 12 includes a base portion 15 on which a tube pin terminal receiving or socket porton 17 is formed. The socket portion 17 includes a plurality of tube pin receiving holes 20, and a central aperture 21 which receives the base of an associated television picture tube. The aperture 21 is suitably keyed as at 23 to insure proper placement of the tube in the socket. A downwardly (as oriented in FIG. 1) depending side wall 19 extends entirely around the base portion 15. The side wall 19 includes a plurality of opening or slots 25 through which the circuit leads 27 pass into the interior of socket 11.

The body portion 12 includes a plurality of studs 14, see FIG. 5 which is a view inverted with respect to that of FIG. 1, and with the cover 13 removed. The body portion 12 also includes a downwardly depending essentially U-shaped flange 22, see FIGS. 2 and 5.

The cover section 13 (see FIG. 3) is essentially a fiat piece of dielectric material which fits within the outline of the wall 19 of the body section 12. The cover section 13 includes suitable holes 31 through which the studs 14 pass, and a U-shaped aperture 33 (see FIG. 7) which receives the U-shaped flange 22. The studs 14 and flange 22 enable the accurate positioning and attachment of cover 13 on body portion 12. The cover section 13 may be secured to the body section 12 permanently as by inserting the flange 22 and studs 14 to extend through the aligned holes 33 and 31 in the cover section -13 and then riveted, fused, or otherwise secured thereto as is well-known in the art. I

The socket portion 17 and its tube pin receiving holes 20 are arranged circumferentially about the axis of the socket 11 to receive the corresponding number of contact pin terminals on the tube base. Each of these holes 20 is 'enlarged in diameter at their outermost ends as at 34 (see FIG. 4) to more conveniently receive the terminal pins of the tube. The number of terminal pins inserted into the holes 20 depends upon the electronic characteristics of the tube to be mounted in the socket.

The L-shaped conductive terminal contacts 28, one of which is shown in FIG. 4, are positioned in respective holes 20 and are connected to conductive leads or wires 4. The terminal contacts 28, as well as the wires 27, are placed in position prior to the assembly of the cover section 13 onto the body 12. The wires 27 and the terminal contacts 28 are layed or positioned in radially extending channels 41 formed in body section 12 (see FIG. A barrier wall 43 is formed between the channels 41 so as to minimize high voltage arcing between the adjacent terminal contacts 28 and the adjacent wires 27.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 7, as mentioned above, the cover 13 is formed to conform with and nest snugly against the peripheral rim or wall 19 of the body 12. The cover 13 includes a circular central shoulder portion 39 surrounding axial opening 21 and a peripheral fiat circular base portion 44. The circular base portion 44 affords a seat upon which a conductor ring 45 is positioned. The conductor ring 45, see also FIGS. 8-1(), includes a plurality of prongs 46 mutually spaced circumferentially, such as on the outside or peripheral edge of the ring 45. The prongs 46 are disposed perpendicular to the plane of said ring 45 and are of sufficient length to locate their terminal ends closely adjacent to each socket terminal contacts 28 with which they align, as will be explained hereinbelow. The spacing between the terminal end of each prong 46 and the associated terminalcontacts 28 (see FIG. 6), constitutes a spark gap which is considerably smaller than the spacing between the terminal contacts themselves. In practice, the conductor ring 45 may be connected to ground or to any other element of the installation capable of current absorption by connecting a wire 27, such as by crimping the wire, within the tab 48 formed on the ring 45.

The conductor ring 45 includes a plurality of holes 47 which correspond to the holes in cover 13 through whichv the studs 14 in body section 12 pass. The inner diameter 49 of the ring 45 corresponds to the outer diameter of shoulder 39. Thus, the ring 45 is securely positioned between the cover 13 and the body portion 12. The ring 45 also includes an extending tip '50 which provides an arcover gap between the tip 50 and the tube terminal contact connected to the high voltage focus lead 53; as indicated in FIG. 5, the length of the spacing between the tip 50 traced around the leg 22a of the flange 22 to the terminal contact 28 is the length of this particular are gap.

At this point it should be noted that although a total of eleven prongs are indicated in FIG. 7; in practice, the ring 45 may be arranged to have more or less prongs as required. Thus, the arc-over gaps are formed only between selected wires and the associated prongs 46.

A flat insulating ring or insulator 52 is arranged to be superimposed over the ring 45. The ring is of a size to fit on base 44 of cover 13 and to completely electrically shield the ring 45 and space it from the terminals 28 positioned in the body portion 12. The insulator 52 includes holes 54 which correspond to the holes in cover 13 and ring 45 to receive the studs 14 from body portion 12 to thus securely position the insulator 52 within the socket 11. The insulator 52 further includes slots 55 through which the prongs 46 in the ring 45 can pass to a position adjacent the wires 27, as will be explained.

With reference to-FIG. 6, this is a view taken along lines 66 of FIG. 5 and shows the base end of a wire 27 to which an L-shaped terminal contact 28 is attached. Note in FIG. 6 the cover 13 is superimposed on the ring 45 which is separated from the wire 27 by the insulator 52. A prong 46 on ring 45 passes through a slot 55 in insulator 52 into an associated recess 57 formed on the body portion 12. The terminal contact 28, which is crimped on, surrounds the end of the wire 27 positioned in the associated channel 41 in the body portion 12 (see also FIG. 5). A prong 46 on the ring 45 is thus positioned to lie alongside the lead 27, and the arc-over gap or spacing is efiected between the side of the terminal contact 28 and wire 27 of the prong 46. This is indicated in FIG. 6 by the arrowed space G indicating the arc-over gap. Note that because of the rigid or tight positioning of the various portions relative to one another of the socket 11, the arc-over gap can be controlled quite closely to provide the exact gap width G to effect control of the arc gap requirements within close tolerances.

It should be readily evident thatthe spacing, and hence the are-over gap between each terminal 28 and the associated prongs 46 can be accurately and closely controlled.

Further, arc-over gaps of ditferent spacing may be formed between the various terminals and the associated prongs 46, as required.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An electron tube receptacle having spaced pin-receiving contact terminal lead means therein to receive terminal pins of an electron tube,

(a) an electrical conductor ring positioned in said socket to be in spaced relation with said pin contact terminal lead means;

(b) prongs on said ring extending therefrom between selected terminal lead means and providing an edge forming an arc gap with a respective terminal lead means;

(c) whereby arc gaps having close tolerances relative to the specific voltage to be dissipated thereby may be formed between said prongs and an associated contact terminal lead means to prevent arcing between the contact terminal lead means.

2. An electron tube receptacle as in claim 1 wherein said electrical conductor ring is grounded.

3. A picture tube receptacle comprising a dielectric body having circumferentially spaced sockets therein to receive the terminal pins of a picture tube and the associated contact terminal lead means,

(a) an electrical conductor enclosed within said body and spaced from the terminal sockets;

(b) prongs on said conductor arranged in circumferentially spaced position relative to said socket pin terminals;

(c) whereby a selected are gap between a respective prong and an adjacent contact terminal lead means is provided and arcing between said socket pin terminal is prevented.

4. A television picture tube receptacle comprising a planar insulation body having circumferentially spaced pin-receiving contact terminal lead means therein to receive terminal pins of a picture tube,

(a) an electrical conductor ring enclosed with said structure and spaced from said contact terminal lead means;

(b) prongs on said ring extending therefrom between selected terminal lead means and providing an edge forming an arc gap with a respective terminal lead means;

(c) whereby the specific voltage to be dissipated thereby can be controlled.

5. An electron tube socket as in claim 3 wherein said electrical conductor is a fiat planar piece formed in an open ring, with the open ends of the ring in juxtaposed space relation, and wherein one of said ends has an elongated projection arranged in substantially the same plane as said ring whereby said elongated projection provides an arc :gap with a selected high voltage terminal connected to the focus lead wire.

6. An electron tube socket as in claim 3 wherein said body includes a base channel for receiving said ring, and said body including a plurality of studs or rods extending transversely to the plane of said ring, and wherein said ring includes a plurality of holes for receiving said studs 5 6 whereby the ring may be accurately positioned in said References Cited bOdY- NI D T P TENT 7. An electron tube socket as in claim 5 wherein said 3 227 910 55 ES A S 339 193 X ring includes prongs extending transverse to the plane of 1 man said ring, and wherein said ring is located in said body 5 3,240,980 3/1966 Schuste? X such that the sides of said prongs are positioned adja- 3,251,016 5/1966 Manet et 339 193 X cent to respective contact terminal lead means to effect RICHARD E. MOORE Primmy Examineran arc gap therebetween. 

1. AN ELECTRON TUBE RECEPTACLE HAVING SPACED PIN-RECEIVING CONTACT TERMINAL LEAD MEANS THEREIN TO RECEIVE TERMINAL PINS OF AN ELECTRON TUBE, (A) AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR RINGS POSITIONED IN SAID SOCKET TO BE IN SPACED RELATION WITH SAID PIN CONTACT TERMINAL LEAD MEANS; (B) PRONGS ON SAID RING EXTENDING THEREFROM BETWEEN SELECTED TERMINAL LEAD MEANS AND PROVIDING AN EDGE FORMING AN ARC GAP WITH A RESPECTIVE TERMINAL LEAD MEANS; (C) WHEREBY ARC GAPS HAVING CLOSE TOLERANCES RELATIVE TO THE SPECIFIC VOLTAGE TO BE DISSIPATED THEREBY MAY BE FORMED BETWEEN SAID PRONGS AND AN ASSOCIATED CONTACT TERMINAL LEAD MEANS TO PREVENT ARCING BETWEEN THE CONTACT TERMINAL LEAD MEANS. 